(22 Nov 2024, 10:45 pm)nova347 wrote Well those were probably the reason GNE got the later 939 slot on a morning that Nexus was going to cancel due to low ridership as its one of the lowest capacity vehicles in any fleet so.

Unless something has changed minibuses can't be used on the 939. 

(Solo SR's are midibuses).

(23 Nov 2024, 7:35 am)Storx wrote Unless something has changed minibuses can't be used on the 939. 

(Solo SR's are midibuses).

Something must have changed because 729/730 were used regularly and a Solo as well.

(23 Nov 2024, 10:23 am)nova347 wrote Something must have changed because 729/730 were used regularly and a Solo as well.

Haven't been on for awhile now though so assume someone has reminded them. 

Solos are fine though, they're bigger. Sure the contract is (or was at least 23 seats).

(23 Nov 2024, 10:35 am)Storx wrote Haven't been on for awhile now though so assume someone has reminded them. 

Solos are fine though, they're bigger. Sure the contract is (or was at least 23 seats).

I thought that too, but as this was the one Nexus was going to cut for low ridership as GNE has Solos and those two Mercs, I thought they won it by having a suitable bus for the loads.

I passed (whilst driving) an X1 Streetdeck getting a lift from Alpha along the A19 around lunch time today (it came from the A690 slip so presumably Houghton area).

6157 (Elite Driver Training). Must have crashed on the 6 on the 20th of Sept and didn't return till the 28th of October. Several panels down the driver side were replaced with plain black as well as practically a new front end and on the door side, a few panels surrounding both wheels have been replaced as well. So much for Elite! Anyone know what happened to it? 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/201417037@...yy-2oJ7Pck

(22 Nov 2024, 10:38 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Isnt this the little buses often used for  Nexus Contracts in small tight estates... I recall them being used in CLS during a road closure and was used to ferry people from the estates onto the main services 

It could also be argubly used to compete with GCT in some contracts

IIRC they were bought specifically for the Newcastle hospital contract but were shelved once covid hit and never went back on the service.  I seem to remember some specific advertising for volunteers for the rota day shift Mon-Fri and one of the benefits was specifically driving these vehicles.

Currently on 6973. Damn this thing can shift like

Not been on one of these like this before

Long time VOR 6337 has moved to the parking lanes at Hownsgill today. Out of curiosity i had a check on the govt website and noticed it has passed its MOT so a return to service soon?

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

8348 only one of the 8348-8354 to have re-trimmed seats as well as the only one to have highback seats.

https://flickr.com/photos/182309254@N08/...W-2qxdMCd/

(30 Nov 2024, 9:23 pm)nova347 wrote 8348 only one of the 8348-8354 to have re-trimmed seats as well as the only one to have highback seats.

https://flickr.com/photos/182309254@N08/...W-2qxdMCd/

At least one other has retrimmed seats. 

This was a demonstrator when new, hence the different seats.

(30 Nov 2024, 10:45 pm)busmanT wrote At least one other has retrimmed seats. 

This was a demonstrator when new, hence the different seats.

Oh! Thank you for correcting me I thought it was the only one but clearly I missed one.

Interesting that Go North East have such little faith in the capabilities of their own fleet that they had to hire in another operator to provide transport for a staff Christmas outing. What's remarkable is that, following the revocation of the bulk of their National Express contracts, they're continuing to maintain a fleet of coaches on the books in the desperate hope of breaking even on them in the over-saturated field of ad-hoc rail replacement work - an incredible commercial strategy in and of itself.

(04 Dec 2024, 8:43 am)R852 PRG wrote Interesting that Go North East have such little faith in the capabilities of their own fleet that they had to hire in another operator to provide transport for a staff Christmas outing. What's remarkable is that, following the revocation of the bulk of their National Express contracts, they're continuing to maintain a fleet of coaches on the books in the desperate hope of breaking even on them in the over-saturated field of ad-hoc rail replacement work - an incredible commercial strategy in and of itself.

I don't think they have any coaches not on Nat Ex anymore? Haven't done for years.

(04 Dec 2024, 8:43 am)R852 PRG wrote Interesting that Go North East have such little faith in the capabilities of their own fleet that they had to hire in another operator to provide transport for a staff Christmas outing. What's remarkable is that, following the revocation of the bulk of their National Express contracts, they're continuing to maintain a fleet of coaches on the books in the desperate hope of breaking even on them in the over-saturated field of ad-hoc rail replacement work - an incredible commercial strategy in and of itself.

I think that all the coaches are still used on National Express diagrams, nothing "revoked" to my knowledge.

Noticed, there's 3 little pinks on the 8 today.

The "Coast & Country" Streetlites are on the 28, 29, 50.


"branding works"

(04 Dec 2024, 4:43 pm)Michael wrote Noticed, there's 3 little pinks on the 8 today.

The "Coast & Country" Streetlites are on the 28, 29, 50.


"branding works"

In fairness, not much Washington can do there. There appears to be a severe shortage of vehicles which are mostly E6 and as a result they're doing

E6 Streetlite's including Coast & Country = 25/28/29
Solo's = 4/8 (No deckers here unless you want a bridge down)
Deckers = Schools / 84 / 85

Now if only they didn't withdraw some Versa's lately... oh wait.

(04 Dec 2024, 4:43 pm)Michael wrote Noticed, there's 3 little pinks on the 8 today.

The "Coast & Country" Streetlites are on the 28, 29, 50.


"branding works"

Noticed a branded Merc on the 34 the other day.

Lost count how often I've seen the spare Merc kicking around on the 4.

(04 Dec 2024, 6:03 pm)Andreos1 wrote Noticed a branded Merc on the 34 the other day.

Lost count how often I've seen the spare Merc kicking around on the 4.

See that's annoying, why not put the "FLEET" livery one on the 34.


What's the point in having a branded route, when the buses aren't even on the correct routes.

Hopefully when they start to get rid of the pointless brands, it'll happen less but no doubt, it'll continue.

---

(04 Dec 2024, 5:53 pm)Storx wrote In fairness, not much Washington can do there. There appears to be a severe shortage of vehicles which are mostly E6 and as a result they're doing

E6 Streetlite's including Coast & Country = 25/28/29
Solo's = 4/8 (No deckers here unless you want a bridge down)
Deckers = Schools / 84 / 85

Now if only they didn't withdraw some Versa's lately... oh wait.

Get more spare Euro 6 buses?

If they can waste money on repainting and re-branding routes every 5 minutes, I'm sure they can afford more euro 6 buses.

(04 Dec 2024, 8:43 am)R852 PRG wrote Interesting that Go North East have such little faith in the capabilities of their own fleet that they had to hire in another operator to provide transport for a staff Christmas outing. What's remarkable is that, following the revocation of the bulk of their National Express contracts, they're continuing to maintain a fleet of coaches on the books in the desperate hope of breaking even on them in the over-saturated field of ad-hoc rail replacement work - an incredible commercial strategy in and of itself.

Appears that plan has fallen through, with 7158-60 back on NX work. 7160 has had a Levante III livery pack fitted, unsure on if 7158 is back in livery.

(05 Dec 2024, 1:23 am)omnicity4659 wrote Appears that plan has fallen through, with 7158-60 back on NX work. 7160 has had a Levante III livery pack fitted, unsure on if 7158 is back in livery.

Just done a quick check, and it would appear that seventeen Go North vehicles have been used over the last week or so on National Express work.

It seems that 6174 has been withdrawn.

At least it had nice seats!

I imagine the rest will follow suit, with the Northern coaching Omnidekkas coming to an end...

Hopefully, at some point, they’ll consider giving the Voyager Geminis a refresh, as everyone on the X5/X15 route now thinks the bus company is called Voyager.

I will never ever understand the Voyager branding choice as there is no mention of GNE anywhere.

(06 Dec 2024, 9:21 pm)nova347 wrote I will never ever understand the Voyager branding choice as there is no mention of GNE anywhere.

The original branding had 'Northern Coaching' it was updated a few years back to Go North East, usually above the door. 

the website for the coaching arm used to be on the back of the Solo, not sure if its still on there but it doesn't work!

(06 Dec 2024, 9:21 pm)nova347 wrote I will never ever understand the Voyager branding choice as there is no mention of GNE anywhere.

It was pointless pandering to enthusiasts reviving a name that never really stuck around or had that much impact the first time around in the 90s

Looks like most of the B5's for the X20 are off the road.

(07 Dec 2024, 1:45 pm)Michael wrote Looks like most of the B5's for the X20 are off the road.

Bar the three off due to high winds (looking at the dates).....they should NEVER have been anywhere near the X9/X10.

And the team responsible for the 2019/20 fleet arrangements (to quote "best bus for the route") should've diverted some of the Enviros to CLS at the time for the X21 and not these!

At the time these became available, the 58 would've been perfect and could have been upseated with tables removed!

(07 Dec 2024, 1:45 pm)Michael wrote Looks like most of the B5's for the X20 are off the road.

Seen cast-offs from London and Streetlites on there in the main.

6376 has hit a tree, branch smashed upstairs window.